"What is called 'liberation through wisdom and skillful meansoriginal: "方便" (upāya); the ability of an enlightened being to use creative methods to help different people reach awakening'? And what is called 'bondage through skillful means without wisdom'?

"Bondage through skillful means without wisdom occurs when a Bodhisattva dwells among the afflictions of greed, anger, and false views, yet still tries to plant the roots of merit. This is called bondage.

"Liberation through wisdom and skillful means occurs when one is free from greed, anger, and false views, plants the roots of merit, and dedicates them to Supreme Perfect Enlightenmentoriginal: "阿耨多羅三藐三菩提" (Anuttara-samyak-saṃbodhi); the complete, unexcelled awakening of a Buddha. This is called liberation.

"Mañjuśrī, that sick Bodhisattva should view all phenomena in this way. Furthermore, they should view the body as impermanent, suffering, empty, and lacking a 'self'—this is called wisdom. Though the body is ill, they remain within the cycle of birth and death to benefit all beings without growing weary—this is called skillful means.

"Furthermore, they view the body and the illness as inseparable; the illness does not exist apart from the body, and the body does not exist apart from the illness. This illness and this body are neither 'new' nor 'old'—this is called wisdom. Even if the body is ill, one does not seek to extinguish it forever i.e., by retreating into a private, final Nirvana while others still suffer—this is called skillful means.

"Mañjuśrī, a sick Bodhisattva should discipline their mind in this way. They should not dwell in a state of attachment, nor should they dwell in an undisciplined mind. Why? Because dwelling in an undisciplined mind is the way of the foolish, while dwelling in a disciplined mind referring here to the rigid discipline of the early disciples is the way of the Listenersoriginal: "聲聞" (Śrāvaka); those who seek personal liberation through hearing the Buddha's teachings. Therefore, a Bodhisattva should neither dwell in discipline nor in lack of discipline. Leaving these two extremes behind is the Bodhisattva practice.

"To exist within the cycle of birth and death without acting defiled is the Bodhisattva practice.
To dwell in Nirvanaoriginal: "涅槃"; the state of ultimate peace and liberation without entering eternal extinction is the Bodhisattva practice.
To perform the deeds of an ordinary person while not being an ordinary person is the Bodhisattva practice.
To perform the deeds of a sage while not being a mere saint is the Bodhisattva practice.
To perform deeds that are neither 'impure' nor 'pure' is the Bodhisattva practice.
Though surpassing the conduct of demons, to appear to subdue all demons is the Bodhisattva practice.
To seek all-encompassing wisdom without seeking it at the 'wrong time' is the Bodhisattva practice.
Though observing that all phenomena are 'unborn' lacking inherent, independent existence, to not enter the 'fixed position' referring to a premature entrance into a void-like state that excludes the world is the Bodhisattva practice.
Though observing the twelve links of dependent originationoriginal: "十二緣起"; the chain of causes that lead to suffering and rebirth, to enter into false views to better understand and help those who hold them is the Bodhisattva practice.
Though embracing all sentient beings, to have no emotional attachment to them is the Bodhisattva practice.
Though delighting in solitude, to not rely on the total exhaustion of body and mind is the Bodhisattva practice.
Though moving through the Three RealmsThe realms of desire, form, and formlessness that comprise the world of rebirth, to not destroy the true nature of reality is the Bodhisattva practice.
Though practicing Emptiness, to plant the roots of various merits is the Bodhisattva practice.
Though practicing the signless not being attached to outward appearances, to still save sentient beings is the Bodhisattva practice.
Though practicing 'wishlessness' not seeking personal results, to manifest a physical body for others is the Bodhisattva practice.
Though practicing non-arising, to give rise to all good deeds is the Bodhisattva practice.
Though practicing the Six Perfectionsoriginal: "六波羅蜜" (Six Paramitas); generosity, ethics, patience, effort, meditation, and wisdom, to fully understand the mental processes of all beings is the Bodhisattva practice.
Though practicing the six supernatural powers, to not exhaust one's worldly presence is the Bodhisattva practice.
Though practicing the Four Immeasurable States of Mind loving-kindness, compassion, empathetic joy, and equanimity, to not greedily seek rebirth in the Brahma heavens is the Bodhisattva practice.
Though practicing meditation, liberation, and SamādhiDeep states of meditative absorption, to not be reborn according to those meditative states which would lead to a long life in a peaceful but unproductive heaven is the Bodhisattva practice.
Though practicing the four foundations of mindfulness, to not ultimately and forever abandon the body, feelings, mind, and phenomena is the Bodhisattva practice.
Though practicing the four right efforts, to not cease the diligence of body and mind is the Bodhisattva practice.
Though practicing the four bases of psychic power, to attain sovereign supernatural abilities is the Bodhisattva practice.
Though practicing the five spiritual roots, to distinguish the sharp or dull capacities of all beings is the Bodhisattva practice.
Though practicing the five powers, to delight in seeking the ten powers of a Buddha is the Bodhisattva practice.
Though practicing the seven factors of enlightenment, to distinguish the wisdom of the Buddha is the Bodhisattva practice.
Though practicing the Eightfold Path, to delight in practicing the countless paths of the Buddha is the Bodhisattva practice.
Though practicing calm abiding and insightoriginal: "止觀" (Śamatha-Vipaśyanā); the two primary pillars of Buddhist meditation as aids to the path, to not ultimately fall into total annihilation is the Bodhisattva practice.
Though observing that all phenomena neither arise nor cease, to adorn one's body with the excellent physical marks of a Buddha is the Bodhisattva practice.
Though manifesting the dignity of a Listener or a Private Buddha, to never abandon the Buddha’s teachings is the Bodhisattva practice.
Though following the ultimate pure mark of all phenomena, to manifest one's body according to what is needed to help others is the Bodhisattva practice.
Though observing that all Buddha-lands are eternally silent like empty space, to manifest various kinds of pure Buddha-lands is the Bodhisattva practice.
Though attaining the Buddha-way, turning the wheel of the DharmaTeaching or Law, and entering Nirvana, to never abandon the path of the Bodhisattva is the Bodhisattva practice."

When these words were spoken, eight thousand gods in the assembly led by Mañjuśrī all gave rise to the aspiration for Supreme Perfect Enlightenment.

Chapter 6: The Inconceivable

At that time, Shariputra The Buddha's disciple known for his great wisdom, though here he represents a more limited, traditional perspective, seeing that there were no beds or seats in the room, thought to himself: "Where will all these Bodhisattvas and great disciples sit?"